Is your addiction to PUBG toxic? Here is what doctors warn

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Is your addiction to PUBG toxic? Here is what doctors warn

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TNN

Updated: Jun 2, 2019, 13:15 IST

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PUBG mania is completely real and there is no denying the fact that kids and adults of all ages are glued to this game. A virtual multiplayer game, it has turned into something so addictive that people are spending more than 7 hours every day glued to their mobile screen. If your gaming habits are questionable and you spend heavy hours online, we have some scary news for you.
A 16-year-old boy, Furkan, lost his life after playing PUBG for six hours straight. According to the doctors, the young boy suffered a severe cardiac arrest, which turned fatal.

According to the doctors who treated him, the boy underwent severe shock as he kept on playing the game for a long stretch and developed a syndrome. Playing the game for so long and being brutally involved in an alternate reality gave him an adrenaline rush, which his heart couldn't stand. The doctors also appealed people to stop falling prey to this addiction, warning about the fatalities.

The doctor shared, "Furkan's family told us he was a swimmer, his heart seemed to be healthy. The excitement of the game might have caused a surge in adrenaline causing cardiac arrest. I appeal children to stay away from such games. Having lost the game, the boy underwent immense stress which was too harsh for his heart to stand. He complained of a headache and fell straight on the bed, collapsing. The family also said that there were times the boy played the game for 18 hours at a stretch! Isn't that scary?"

“Like any online game, winning a PUBG game seems fulfilling and rewarding but the time people spend online playing it needs to be curtailed. As dopamine spreads through the system, it makes you more aggressive and involved, making you unfazed about the other realities and even lead to something fatal. Any incident of social isolation or defiance by the victim needs to be checked at once. Psychological help, cognitive therapies can help in severe cases as well. Parents, too, should be open with their kids and encourage them to practice good habits online.”, says Dr. Prajakta Gupte, Psychiatrist at Jupiter Hospital.

This shocking news comes after a lot of schools and states banned the game entirely, terming it "unhealthy" and "addictive". Following which, the makers of the game introduced the concept of "health reminders", blocking users from playing the game after a while.

Are you addicted to PUBG? What also makes PUBG quite problematic is the nature of its addictive plot line. Characters regain their lives and get to play again. So, you can play at a long stretch and there is no end to it! WHO, too, has recently termed gaming disorders as real.

So, it is time to pay attention to your gaming hours. According to Dr. Soumiya Mudgal, Consultant, Psychiatrist, Max Hospitals, it is very essential to separate the virtual world from the real world. Adding to it, she says, "For addicts, it can be difficult to separate the two. It is crucial that you do not let any of the gaming environment interfere with your personal life. It impacts your decision-making skills. As long as your gaming habits do not take a toll on sleep and other commitments, it is safe for you."

Dr. Shaunak Ajinkya, Consultant, Psychiatrist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital adds, "Video game addiction is characterised by excessive dependence on games or virtual reality interfaces which disrupt your personal life. he persistent need to use the mobile phone/gaming exceedingly often can lead to Anxiety disorders, Mood disorders, Eating disorders, Sleep and Sexual Disorders. A person may lose sense of time while engrossed in their phone/game affecting everyday activities like going to work, productivity and managing relationships successfully. One may experience emotions like cravings in absence of the game, anger outbursts, irritability, restlessness, mood swings, decreased interest in work/study, sleep disturbances as well. It is very important you identify the triggers and get checked at once. There are also some self-help tools you can follow to follow a healthy lifestyle."

- Set time periods in which you shouldn’t use your phone (e.g. 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.)

- Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness can help you to cope with your cravings.

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